In 1992, Christmas Ale debuts as one of the original American spiced holiday ales and quickly becomes a local legend. The annual Christmas Ale “First Pour” marks the beginning of the festive season, with fans lining up outside the brewery in hopes to see the first pints of the year get poured. I was honored to be a part of this legacy, creating promotional materials, signage, and graphics to share this tradition with the Cleveland community. The designs were inspired by nostalgia and leaned on the star shape in the Christmas Ale logo to create a pattern that conjured up feelings of cozy holidays past. The event also featured a toy drive for Providence House, a Cleveland-based organization that offers free, voluntary emergency shelter for children whose families are experiencing crisis in a safe, homelike, trauma-informed Crisis Nursery.
First Pour is not the only Christmas event at Great Lakes. I was also able to brand the tradition of creating a “Secret Cellar” pop-up bar at the brewpub, a favorite, festive underground hideaway decked in twinkling lights, garlands, and cozy holiday decor, as well as other special holiday events on campus.
Additionally, I photographed bottles and cans of the magical brew, as well as newer seasonal favorites Cookie Exchange Milk Stout and Cran Orange Wheat. These images highlight the cozy, festive spirit of the season.
